grappling with both sides

[tekkenfan]

i was always taught you dont have to learn both sides the only thing i drill both sides are escapes since you cant control which side a guy passes guard to so you gotta be able to escape both sides armbars triangles ect leg locks and even takedowns on the other side is so awkward to me i also felt there is so much to grappling that i dont have enough time to rep both sides and get good at both

its weird for me i also wrestle left leg lead but when i clinch i like to go southpaw

 

[beat...people...up?]

My instinct is also to wrestle left leg lead (probably because I used to run track, and the track runs counterclockwise, so the left leg is default "start leg"). However, it seems like most people lead with right so I wind up practicing right leg lead to accommodate partners when drilling. Do you find this true with training partners or do they go with whatever you like?

 

[tekkenfan]

My instinct is also to wrestle left leg lead (probably because I used to run track, and the track runs counterclockwise, so the left leg is default "start leg"). However, it seems like most people lead with right so I wind up practicing right leg lead to accommodate partners when drilling. Do you find this true with training partners or do they go with whatever you like?

yeah most wrestlers r southpaw and alot in mma it makes drilling very difficult u cant shoot a double leg on a southpaw the way your suppose to u cant split the middleit becomes a tackle basically i learnt to switch stances during my set up to land it

i wish more wrestling vids showed how to attack guys with different stances thats a huge thing that people dont seem to cover

 

[Judoka1532]

i was always taught you dont have to learn both sides the only thing i drill both sides are escapes since you cant control which side a guy passes guard to so you gotta be able to escape both sides armbars triangles ect leg locks and even takedowns on the other side is so awkward to me i also felt there is so much to grappling that i dont have enough time to rep both sides and get good at both

its weird for me i also wrestle left leg lead but when i clinch i like to go southpaw

I think initially it's important to learn submissions from one side. Learn how to do the techniques on your preferred arm and leg. After that's established I think it's good to learn both. You never know which arm will get trapped if you have somebody in your guard. You also don't know which side your opponent trains more defensively. If you can attack their weaker side with your trained weaker side..I see that as an advantage. Or if a guy leaves his head sticking out on your left but you do guillotines on your right, you can miss a big opportunity. If that's a hole in your game then your opponent my takedown to your weak side. Also, in terms of leg locks, why not attack somebody's strong leg because then only their weak leg is left to defend. Depending on who you're fighting, it can be either side.

 

[ArtemV]

I try both sides, sometimes. I am always right leg lead in wrestling, but I do have a few attacks that I like to use from a left-leg lead. I try to pass from both sides, though. The passes I use aren't too difficult to use from each side (double-under, over-under, tripod etc). Most of the guys at my club force me to train from each side when rolling.

 

[judoka loca]

My instinct is also to wrestle left leg lead (probably because I used to run track, and the track runs counterclockwise, so the left leg is default "start leg"). However, it seems like most people lead with right so I wind up practicing right leg lead to accommodate partners when drilling. Do you find this true with training partners or do they go with whatever you like?

My track coaches always wanted us to start right leg lead. I always ran left, though, because it was close to an orthodox boxing stance, which I was used to.

Right foot forward is what is taught in judo, though.

 

[mataleaos]

I follow the Marcelo Garcia doctrine which is to have techniques that you can do to both sides but they don't have to be the same techniches.

Ie. Marcelo passes with the x pass to his left and the back step to his right. If he has left top side he looks to north south choke. If he right top side he looks to far side armbar.

I think it's important to be able to play both ways even if you don't use the same moves. As long as you have a game that you can play in each direction then I think you're good to go.

 

[yetanother]

I follow the Marcelo Garcia doctrine which is to have techniques that you can do to both sides but they don't have to be the same techniches.

Why do that? Developing something you already know on the side generally is loads easier than developing something else. You already know the details/concepts/strategy (and for me most of the time I can do the move to the degree even if I didn't drill it on that side at all) so for most stuff it's the matter of drilling it a bit.

 

[Dirty Holt]

You need to have sweeps, submissions, and passes from both sides, but you dont need to have the same ones to both sides.

 

[mataleaos]

Why do that? Developing something you already know on the side generally is loads easier than developing something else. You already know the details/concepts/strategy (and for me most of the time I can do the move to the degree even if I didn't drill it on that side at all) so for most stuff it's the matter of drilling it a bit.

Good question. I don't know. it just came easier for me that way. I'm right handed. So for example I like to do chokes with my right hand. If I pass to my left and they turn in I go brabo/darce. If I pass to my right and they turn in I go guillotine or anaconda. If I'm on the back on my top arm side I got rear naked. If I'm on my bottom arm side I go armbar.

I can do the same techniques just fine on both sides in many cases, but at this point I just have sides that I prefer for each. I can definitely leg drag both ways for example but I mostly like to leg drag to my right. And my knee slice feels a little sharper to my left so I typically go that way with that pass. If I had to leg drag to my left or knee slice to my right then I could. But whatever side feels slightly stronger for a given technique is the one I usually will use.

The one big thing that I really don't think I could play decent to either side is DLR and RDLR. I can't play DLR on my right hip for shit and I can't play RDLR on my left hip for shit. Other guards I can play on either hip pretty well.

This whole thing may not be the smartest idea but ultimately I think it's how most people play. There is science that suggests it's easier to learn a movement on one side and then transfer that knowledge later as opposed to trying to learn and improve both sides equally at the same time. If I was a full time athlete and not just a hobbyist than I would probably have spent more time drilling both sides equally.

 

[Adjaar]

I too have been a one sided wonder with my submissions, but trying to change that. I have been very good at getting the arm bar on guys in my guard who stack me and then I nail the arm they left on my lapel. I recently competed though and the guy I faced in the finals continually did that pass, but I realized that I only ever tried it when my opponents left their left arm up, and this guy did it with his right arm. I was too nervous to try that arm and he managed to get the pass on me.

So now I train both as much as I can

 

[yetanother]

The one big thing that I really don't think I could play decent to either side is DLR and RDLR.

I have a lot worse DLR on my right hip too but I sometimes try to work on it in positional sparring. I find it improves a fair bit if I train it. The big issue with that is that a huge part of DLR is hook strength and it takes a ton of time to built that strength.

 

[mataleaos]

I have a lot worse DLR on my right hip too but I sometimes try to work on it in positional sparring. I find it improves a fair bit if I train it. The big issue with that is that a huge part of DLR is hook strength and it takes a ton of time to built that strength.

Yeah that's a great point too. I didn't think about that but you're right.

 

[tekkenfan]

I try both sides, sometimes. I am always right leg lead in wrestling, but I do have a few attacks that I like to use from a left-leg lead. I try to pass from both sides, though. The passes I use aren't too difficult to use from each side (double-under, over-under, tripod etc). Most of the guys at my club force me to train from each side when rolling.

isnt it very awkward for u when guys wrestle a different leg lead than you? i know it def is for orthodox guys vs southpaws

 

[ArtemV]

isnt it very awkward for u when guys wrestle a different leg lead than you? i know it def is for orthodox guys vs southpaws

Sometimes, but like I said: I have some techniques specific for different situations, if someone is leading with their left and I lead with my right (so our lead legs are close to each other) I will change tactics and go for: arm-drags, go-behinds, throw-bys and low singles. Or maybe even some sort of fireman's carry.

 

[tekkenfan]

Sometimes, but like I said: I have some techniques specific for different situations, if someone is leading with their left and I lead with my right (so our lead legs are close to each other) I will change tactics and go for: arm-drags, go-behinds, throw-bys and low singles. Or maybe even some sort of fireman's carry.

yeha in straight grappling its not a big deal in mma it is though